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->''"I was able to manufacture a love song between two people who would have no possibility of eye contact with each other. That's one of the advantages of writing musicals rather than straight plays: you need no justification to be surreal, because the form itself is."''-->-- '''Music/StephenSondheim''', ''Look, I Made a Hat''

Two singers sing the same song, but they are separated in space. Can be used to show the commonality of the two singers (such as two lovers sharing a love song while longing for each other) but another variation is the protagonists singing a happy song while the villain is plotting.

Common among StarCrossedLovers. TheSongBeforeTheStorm often uses this format. Related to TwoScenesOneDialogue.

Naturally, a sub-trope of LetsDuet.

----!!Examples[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]* A rare print version of this trope pops up in ''Manga/ChronoCrusade''. In New York state, Rosette flops down on the grass and begins to sing a musical version of Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's poem ''Israfel''. In the middle of the song, the scene switches to San Fransisco, where her brother Joshua is singing the same song. Since this is the first time Joshua shows up in the present day (his previous scenes had either been flashbacks or only shown him in silhouette), the song is a clue that it's the same Joshua as it's mentioned he and Rosette sang together as children.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]* "Missing You" from ''Theatre/AVeryPotterMusical''.* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fandom, the separation of Celestia and Luna for a thousand years across the vast distance between the earth and the moon provides the perfect opportunity for some ''very'' distant duets between the two sisters. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyJL67oTv_A "Home"]] is a beautiful example of exactly this.** Although the [[TearJerker tear-jerking]] ''Music/LullabyForAPrincess'' ([[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4tyvJJzSDk watch here]]) is a solo lament that Celestia sings to her sister on the moon, it has been made into a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG0miCM8l08 duet.]] There are also versions of the song sung by Luna, such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyj9_YJCMUw "Luna's Soliloquy"]] and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waPvh7ehZ3Y "Luna's Reply,"]] which have been adapted into [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyfrP7AInds these]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGNifI5wdv0 duets,]] respectively.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film - Animation]]* ''WesternAnimation/CinderellaJetlagProductions'': "When Love Has Gone Away" has the prince and Cinderella sing about how them fell in love with each other, when the prince has Cinderella's shoe.* "Savages" from Disney's ''Disney/{{Pocahontas}}'', the song leading up to the climax of the film, has alternating verses sung by the white settlers and the native people as they each prepare for war against each other.* "The Plagues" from ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt''* The "LaResistance" Medley from ''WesternAnimation/SouthParkBiggerLongerAndUncut'', which is also a deliberate parody of these kinds of songs. The members of LaResistance, the mothers, the fathers, Terrance and Phillip and Satan all sing different parts, often reprising other songs from the movie.* The AwardBaitSong "For Longer Than Forever" from ''WesternAnimation/TheSwanPrincess''.* "Am I Feeling Love?", one of two blatant {{Award Bait Song}}s in the theatrical cuts of WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler.* "Shere Khan's Lost Song" from ''Disney/TheJungleBook'' was originally going to be one for Shere Khan, the film's BigBad.* The [[WhatCouldHaveBeen canceled]] WesternAnimation/BettyBoop movie was planned to have a distant duet between Betty and her father. [[https://web.archive.org/web/20130512190244/http://www.moorestudiosinc.com/bettyboop.htm See it here.]]* The DarkReprise of "My Kingdom of The Heart" from ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndThePea''.* "A Boy Needs a Dog (Reprise)" from the film of ''WesternAnimation/TeachersPet''. * "Somewhere Out There" from ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTail''. Two young separated mice, a brother and a sister, sing about their hopes of finding each other someday ([[MissedHimByThatMuch unaware that they're closer than they think]]). [[TearJerker *sniff*]]* "For the First Time in Forever" in ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'', which has Anna dancing all over the castle and its surroundings while singing about her excitement about the gates being open again, and Elsa gathering her courage in her room while [[CounterpointDuet she sings about her apprehension over the same thing]]. * ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames'': The [[WhatCouldHaveBeen original version]] of [[IWantSong "What More Is Out There"]] was between [[TheHero Sunset Shimmer]] and the Human World's Twilight Sparkle.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]* The song "Touch-a Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me" from ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'' has Janet singing as she's seducing Rocky in the lab as well as Columbia and Magenta singing as well... while mocking Janet from inside a bedroom as they watch her on the security cameras.* The song "Come Back To Me" from ''Theatre/OnAClearDayYouCanSeeForever''. Daisy is avoiding the psychiatrist so he tries to reach her telepathically. She begins hearing the words of the song coming from the mouths of her cooking class teacher, police officers, and other random strangers. (Does not happen in the stage show.)* The second verse of "At The Opera Tonight" from ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera'' is a duet between the Repo Man and Blind Mag. The distance between them is not simply physical: while Mag sings about how she's made peace with her fate, Repo Man is raging and planning a bloodbath.* All of John and Abigail Adams' duets in ''Film/SeventeenSeventySix''. Especially fitting as the duets are based off their letters to each other. * Lalita and Darcy share a Distant Duet that was cut from the movie ''Film/BrideAndPrejudice'' but can be seen on the DVD. * Two in ''Film/TheMuppets'': Piggy (in her dressing room) and Mary (at a restaurant) in "Me Party", and then Gary (on the street) and Walter (in the Muppet Studios basement) for "Man or Muppet" (there's an ImagineSpot where they're together in the middle, but as far as the reality of the film is concerned, they're not).* ''Film/AcrossTheUniverse'' has at least two. "Hey Jude" is sung by Max, who's sitting in an American bar, and citizens of Liverpool (including Jude's mother), all encouraging Jude to seek out his love Lucy. "Let It Be" (reworked in a gospel style) is one of the most [[TearJerker tearjerking]] moments in the film. It's set against the backdrop of the 1967 Detroit riot, with a young boy singing the first verse in the streets and a preacher/singer performing the second at the same boy's funeral. Though they're in the same room, they couldn't be further apart.* Danny and Sandy in ''Film/{{Grease}}'' separately tell different versions of their summer nights together in the song, "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Summer Nights]]."[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action Television]]* In "The Night of the Bottomless Pit" from ''Series/TheWildWildWest'', imprisoned secret agent James West carelessly sings the first line of a folk song. The scene then switches to another part of the prison where his partner, Artemus Gordon, who has just arrived in disguise (as usual), is singing the rest of the same song.* Happens frequently on ''Series/{{Glee}}'', but in the Season 4 premiere "The New Rachel," Marley and Rachel sing "New York State Of Mind" together. * "Walk Through the Fire" from the ''Series/{{Buffy|TheVampireSlayer}}'' {{musical|Episode}} has a whole bunch of little subgroups.** The prior scene, where Tara sings a DarkReprise of "Under Your Spell" while Giles sings "Standing", would also count.* 2014's ''Peter Pan Live,'' a new version of [[Theatre/PeterPan the stage musical]], changed the (now-appropriately titled) "Distant Melody" to one of these. In the original, Peter Pan sings it as a lullaby at Wendy's request; in ''Live'', Wendy sings one half of the song in Neverland, while Mrs. Darling, still waiting for her children to come home, [[CounterpointDuet sings the other]].* In an episode of ''Series/{{The Flash|2014}}'', "Duet", when [[StarCrossedLovers Millie!Iris and Tommy!Mon-El]] tell their fathers that they are in love, the fathers tell them they belong to both mobs that oppose each other, but they care about their children and try to convince them to find their own true love. The fathers from both sides then go into a moving rendition of "More I Cannot Wish You" from ''Theatre/GuysAndDolls'', which is both SugarWiki/{{heartwarming|Moments}} and [[TearJerker heartbreaking]] at the same time.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]* The Polish-Russian songstress' Anna German's song ''Echo of Love'' is kinda like that.* Music/FrankSinatra recorded a new version of ''I've Got You Under My Skin'' with {{Bono}} in 1993. The music video depicts Sinatra singing his part of the song in New York, with Bono singing his lines in Dublin.* Music/SoundHorizon's "Shiseru Monotachi no Monogatari - Istoria" includes a duet between separated twins Elefseus and Artemisia, promising that they'll meet again one day.* Music/SimplePlan's "Jet Lag" is sung from the perspective of a couple who are separated by continents, to the point where he's waking up just as the sun is setting where she is. They have released four official versions of the song--the English version with Natasha Bedingfield, a French version with Marie-Mai, a mixed English/Chinese version with Kelly Cha, and a one with an Indonesian band. In all four music videos he is shown at the airport while she waits for him to come home.* "Where You Are" by Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.* "Picture" by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow is from the perspective of a couple simultaneously pining for, and '''cheating on''', each other while the man is out on the road. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKFx0MMqb48 Video]]* Parodied in "West End Musical", by Music/MitchBenn and the Distractions (also a CounterpointDuet):-->'''Kirsty''':I'm on the left side of the stage.\\'''Mitch''': I'm standing over on the right.\\'''Kirsty''': Silhouetted in a spotlight on my own.\\'''Mitch''': That's interesting, so am I.\\'''Kirsty''': I'm not too sure just what this song's about.\\'''Mitch''': I don't know either, don't ask me.\\'''Kirsty''': It's probably something to do with being alone.\\'''Mitch''': But I'm standing over here...* The Music/DavidByrne & Music/FatboySlim album ''Here Lies Love'' has two:** "Seven Years" has Benigno Aquino (first in prison, then in exile to the US) and Imelda Marcos (in Manila) singing to each other.** "Why Don't You Love Me?": As the liner notes explain, "This song is sung in an imaginary duet between Imelda and Estrella, who have no contact with one another at this point."* "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum* But for the limitations of mid-Eighties technology, Live Aid might have included a real-life example of this trope. David Bowie and Mick Jagger wanted to perform a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin transatlantic duet]] of the song "Dancing in the Street". When this proved impossible to achieve without one of them miming to a pre-recorded track (which neither of them wanted to do) they made a video instead.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]* Alfred and Sarah sit in their beds and sing a love duet in ''Theatre/TanzDerVampire''... separated by a corridor and two heavy doors, one of which is nailed shut to prevent advances on the girl.* "Tonight Quintet" from ''Theatre/WestSideStory''.* "What You Own" in both the musical and movie versions of ''Theatre/{{Rent}}''. Mark's in New York, Roger's in Santa Fe, they meet for the final verse on the roof of their apartment building.* "Lily's Eyes" from ''The Secret Garden'', which is sung by two brothers who were in love with the same woman.** The musical also features "Come to My Garden" and "Lift Me Up," a duet sung between Lily and her son, Colin. This is a particularly extreme distance, as Lily is deceased; it's implied that she is visiting the boy in a dream. Something similar happens in "How Could I Ever Know," a duet between Lily and her (still-living) husband.* "I Wish I Could Go Back to College" and "Fantasies Come True" from ''Theatre/AvenueQ'' both do this. The former has three singers, all in different buildings. The latter is a twist on the "love song" variant; the two singers are both singing about having found love, but not with each other. And one of the two people who's found love discovers immeadiately afterwards that it was AllJustADream.* "Summer Nights" from ''Theatre/{{Grease}}''.* "Till Then" and "Yours, Yours, Yours" between UsefulNotes/{{John|Adams}} and Abigail Adams in ''Theatre/SeventeenSeventySix''.* "Skid Row" from ''Theatre/LittleShopOfHorrors'' has various characters singing one line, before developing into a more conventional Distant Duet with Audrey and Seymour.* ''Theatre/{{Thirteen}}'' has a subversion. Evan and Patrice are standing right next to each other and are giving advice to Brett saying what they wish they would really say to each other* ''Theatre/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet'' has a distant trio, with Sweeney in his barbershop, coming to terms with his belief that he will never see Johanna again; Anthony on the streets of London, tirelessly searching for Johanna; and Johanna herself in an insane asylum, just wanting someone to rescue her.* "Christmas Makes Me Cry" from {{Theatre/Brooklyn}} has Faith in Paris, singing to young Brooklyn, and Taylor in New York, singing to...anyone who'll listen, and both of them thinking of each other.* "What You Don't Know About Women" in ''Theatre/CityOfAngels''. Gabby and Oolie are separated not only by a split stage, but by the latter being a fictional character in a FilmNoir written by the former's husband.* 'I Know Him So Well' from ''Chess'', although this one depends on the production: in some versions, the two singers are actually singing to each other.* The finale reprise of "For Good" in ''{{Theatre/Wicked}}''.* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eoMAgYmNh0 Friendship Isn't What it Used to Be]] from ''Vanities: The Musical'' was originally a solo sung by Kathy after the other two characters leave the scene, but made a Distant Trio in later productions.* "Learning To Be Silent" from ''Film/{{Footloose}}'' where both Shaw's wife and Ren's mother express frustration over never being listened to in their house anymore.* Herr Schultz and Fraulein Schneider have one in ''Theatre/{{Cabaret}}'' - I think it's "Married".* Young Scrooge and Fan's duet of "A Place Called Home" in ''Film/AChristmasCarolTheMusical''.* Played with in the original production of ''Theatre/SpringAwakening'': During "Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind", Moritz and Ilse are shown to be in the same location and are clearly talking/singing to each other, but they are staged in a way that conveys distance and never look at each other, showing their conversational disconnect despite their physical closeness.* ''Theatre/LesMiserables'' has a Distant ''Octet'' in the form of "[[TheSongBeforeTheStorm One Day More]]", with Valjean, Marius and Cosette (who are actually distant lovers longing for each other), Eponine, Enjolras (who is joined by Marius deciding what to do), Javert, and the Thenardiers.* An interesting example occurs in ''Theatre/TheMusicMan'', where the two leads are separated, and reprising back and forth between two songs ("76 Trombones" and "Goodnight, My Someone"), which have the same tune in different meters.* "Unworthy of Your Love" from ''Theatre/{{Assassins}}'' is a weird example in that technically it's a love duet between John Hinckley and Squeaky Fromme... except instead of singing to each other, they're singing to Jodie Foster and Charles Manson.* "No One is Alone" from ''Theatre/IntoTheWoods'' has Cinderella singing to Little Red Ridinghood (on the ground) while The Baker sings to Jack (high in a tree).* ''Theatre/ThePajamaGame'' pulls off the epic stunt of having a character sing a Distant Duet with ''himself''. Toward the beginning of Act One, Sid sings "Hey There" into a dictaphone, bragging about how he doesn't need love and telling himself to stay away from romance. At the end of the act, Sid, who has now realized that he's deeply in love with Babe, inadvertently turns the machine back on and begins to echo the voice on the record, singing a duet with himself about how his feelings have changed.* The musical version of ''Theatre/TheLittleMermaid'' has "If Only", a distant ''quartet'' performed by Ariel (through InnerMonologue due to being a CuteMute at this time), Sebastian, Eric and Triton, who are all expressing a desire to understand or be understood by their loved ones.* From ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'' we have "Dear Theodosia," in which both Hamilton and Burr sing to their newly-born child about how much they love them already and will try to take care of them. For brief examples, we also have Angelica in "Take A Break" singing from England about how she wishes she and Alexander weren't separated, and the beginning of "Stay Alive," in which Eliza sings the titular words from home while Alexander is off at war. "Your Obedient Servant" also arguably counts, in that Hamilton and Burr are separated physically, but they are still communicating, in that the conceit is that the words they're singing are the letters they're sending back and forth.* ''Theatre/{{Finale}}'' has two: "More Than This," a duet between Tyler and Dylan about wanting to find love, sung from their respective homes, and "My Last Days," sung between Dani and Noah about their respective parents. Bonus points for the latter, as they didn't even know each other. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* "Girl in the Tower", from ''VideoGame/KingsQuestVIHeirTodayGoneTomorrow''.* The Opera from VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI. Unique in that the Duet is part of an opera, staged within the game.* ''VideoGame/LunarSilverStarStory'' features a variation done without lyrics. When Alex plays the ocarina to try to open the blue dragon shrine, Luna can sense it from far away and starts singing along, opening the shrine.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'' gives ''Siskel and Ebert'' (playing themselves, no less) one of these when they temporarily end their partnership. Then a third verse is sung by Jay's boss, secretly upset that Jay has quit to pursue a partnership with one of them.* The ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode "Dream of Love" has a BreakupSong between Tree Trunks and Mr. Pig.* ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'':** The MusicalEpisode has [[{{Workaholic}} Helen]] and [[TheFashionista Quinn]] (a mother and daughter) sing "Don't They Know I Can't Leave Yet." It paints them as NotSoDifferent, each achieving a sense of self-worth through their respective obsessions. ** "What If the Town Blew Away?", "Manly" and "The Big Wet Rain Storm is Over" are like this, but for groups of people instead of just two. * "Pets and Humans" in the ''WesternAnimation/LittlestPetShop2012'' episode "[[Recap/LittlestPetShop2012S3E26ItsThePetFestPart2 It's the Pet Fest! - Part 2]]" is sung between Jason #1 on the hotel's roof and Heidi and Zoe in the Fun Park on the hotel's first floor. The final part of the song has both groups join up and sing simultaneously, over each other.* "So Far Apart" from ''MyLittlePony: [[http://www.hubworld.com/watch/610729115001 The Runaway Rainbow]]''.* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': ** "This Day Aria", from "A Canterlot Wedding, Part 2". Sung by Princess Cadance and [[spoiler: her impersonator, [[ShapeshiftingSeducer the Changeling Queen Chrysalis]]]]. It's unique for two reasons: It's a duet where both parts are sung by the same performer, who is playing different characters, one of which is impersonating the other.** "It's Gonna Work" from "Spice Up Your Life". Doubles as a CounterpointDuet, as Rarity is with Coriander Cumin, singing about how the Tasty Treat should try to be more like the other restaurants in Canterlot's Restaurant Row, while Pinkie Pie is with Saffron Masala, singing about how they should embrace their individuality.* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'':** The episode "I Scream, You Scream" has [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soiw4Bh6lig Busted]]. Although it is a duet for Candace and Vanessa, they never actually see each other during this episode. *** Similarly "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYvcppG1W34 When Tomorrow is This Morning Again]]" (sung by Candace and Doofenshmirtz) from the GrandFinale "Last Day of Summer". Part of the song resembles "Busted", with Doofenshmirtz taking the position of Vanessa.** The episode, "Bully Bromance Break Up" had [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhmXLNXnAIM "Hole in My Heart",]] a BreakupSong between [[TheBully Buford]] and [[BollywoodNerd Baljeet.]]** The episode "Act Your Age" has "What Might Have Been", a duet between Phineas and Isabella where they somberly sing about what it might have been like if they had gotten into a relationship together like they both wanted, and regretting not ever having done so. * "This Grill Is Not A Home" in ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants''[[/folder]]